The problem I run in to is that it does not impact the file name, only the variable in the data card. I have tried to use dispatch, but i encounter a problem where it won't edit the file name if the file is open in SolidWorks.

Yes, I have tried this. My problem seems to be that the part number I want to use is a combination of a serial number and variable aliases. Since it is not strictly a serial number it does not show up on this list.

Ok, I understand now: the serial number is only a part of your part number.

We have a similar part/item number. It consists of a 4 digit code for categorization and an 9 digit serial number. We use the full number to export to ERP. But for the filename in PDM we only use the serial number because that is all we need to make the filename unique.

PDM is not build to handle file names in this way and probably newer will.

I see that PDM is built to manage single configuration (or more precise one ID number per file) approach for regular design. Standard component are different topic.

Answer to initial question:

When engineering team is larger soon all "normal" names are consumed. I assume that you have enabled setting what won't allow duplicate filenames in your Vault. And soon your team have situation when you cannot check in files because file name are duplicates. Allowing duplicate file names is almost worst thing I can ever imagine for PDM system.

When you can ensure in your PDM system that file names are unique, you may use same numbering in your ERP-MRP system. You don't need to worry file names and to take new ID from another system and then somehow to match them.